IN  MEMBERS 

IN  MISSIONARIES 
IN  MONEV 


BY 

J.  Y.  AITCHISON 


lEN’S  MISSIONARY  MOVEMENT 

MADISON  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/ouravailableresoOOaitc 


Our 

Available  Resources 

IN  MEMBERS 
IN  MISSIONARIES 
IN  MONEY 


By  J.  Y.  AITCHISON 


LAYMEN’S  MISSIONARY  MOVEMENT 

1 Madison  Avenue,  New  York 


OUR  AVAILABLE 
RESOURCES 

Never  has  there  been  a time 
Tvhen  Christ  needed  the  absolute 
devotion  of  his  church  more  than 
He  does  to-day. 

Never  has  there  been  a time 
Tvhen  the  world  desired  more  earn- 
estly or  has  had  reason  more  con- 
fidently to  expect  the  Church  to  be 
true  to  Christ  than  to-day. 

Never  has  the  Church  in  America 
had  greater  resources  in  men  and 
in  money  with  which  to  give  the 
whole  gospel  to  the  whole  world 
than  to-day. 


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AVAILABLE  RESOURCES  IN 
MEMBERS 

One  hundred  years  ago  there  was  one  Prot- 
estant church  member  to  every  fourteen  of  our 
population.  To-day  there  is  one  to  every  four. 
What  greater  calamity  could  befall  the  world 
than  for  the  Protestant  churches  of  America  to 
continue  to  grow  in  wealth  and  build  up  a 
membership  “unreached  by  the  vital  power  of 
an  individual  experience  of  Christianity’’  and 
unconcerned  about  the  giving  of  such  an  ex- 
perience to  the  whole  world?  “He  that  saveth 
his  life  shall  lose  it.” 


AVAILABLE  RESOURCES  IN 
MISSIONARIES 

One  hundred  years  ago  only  one  student  in 
ten  was  a member  of  a church;  to-day  prac- 
tically one-half  of  the  student  body  of  America 
are  members  of  Protestant  churches. 

During  the  Civil  War,  when  the  call  came 
for  volunteers,  Illinois  furnished  one  out  of 
every  seven  of  her  entire  population;  one  out 
of  every  six  of  the  population  of  Kansas  vol- 
unteered; from  Louisiana  one  out  of  every  five; 
from  Georgia  one  out  of  every  four  went  to 


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the  front,  while  28,000  more  volunteers  v/ent 
from  North  and  South  Carolina  than  they  had 
voters. 

There  is  just  as  good  red  blood  in  the  veins 
of  the  college  students  of  America  to-day  as 
ever  flowed  in  the  veins  of  their  forefathers. 
It  took  the  Civil  War  to  show  of  what  kind 
of  stuff  our  ancestors  were  made.  When  once 
the  church  faces  her  whole  task  with  the  de- 
termination and  devotion  which  the  cause  of 
Christ  demands  in  these  days  of  unprecedented 
need  and  opportunity,  we  believe  the  student 
body  of  our  colleges  will  be  willing  to  heed 
God’s  call  to  service  and  throw  their  lives  into 
the  breach.  The  former  call  was  to  die  for 
our  country.  Surely  the  call  to  give  trained, 
consecrated  lives  for  the  service  of  God  and 
humanity  will  not  receive  less  devotion. 


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AVAILABLE  RESOURCES  IN 
MONEY 


Less  than  50  per  cent,  of  the  members  of 
Protestant  churches  are  now  enrolled  as  con- 
tributors to  the  local  expense  and  benevolence 
budgets  of  the  churches,  or  participating  in 
any  definite  form  of  service.  At  a time  like 
this  such  indifference  is  appalling. 


Gifts  Not  Keeping  Pace  With  Wealth 

But  this  is  not  all.  While  over  50  per  cent, 
of  our  members  are  not  giving  anything,  a large 
proportion  of  those  who  are  giving  do  not  pay 
in  proportion  to  their  real  ability  or  in  the  light 
of  actual  needs.  A very  small  proportion  of 
those  now  contributing  to  the  local  expense  or 
benevolence  budgets  of  the  churches  are  paying 
in  accordance  with  their  privilege  and  duty  as 
Christian  stewards.  There  are  in  our  churches 
scores  upon  scores  of  men  and  women  whose 
income  and  wealth  have  increased  steadily 
year  after  year,  but  whose  gifts  to  local  needs 
and  missions  have  nowhere  nearly  kept  pace. 

It  has  been  conservatively  estimated  that  the 
property  of  Protestant  church  members  in  the 
United  States  amounts  to  over  $23,000,000,- 


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000.  Yet  while  they  added  an  average  of 
nearly  $700,000,000  to  their  possessions  each 
year  for  the  ten  years  from  1 890  to  1 900,  in 
1914  they  gave  but  $28,875,000  to  home 
and  foreign  missions. 

Fountains  of  Spiritual  Life  Drying  Up 

TTie  result  is  not  simply  lack  of  funds  for 
the  Lord’s  work,  but  more  fatal  even  than 
that  fact  is  the  awful  calamity  which  is  befall- 
ing many  of  these  people  individually  in  the 
drying  up  of  the  fountains  of  their  spiritual 
lives.  Then,  too,  think  of  the  awful,  far-reach- 
ing paralysis  of  the  influence  of  such  members 
upon  the  life  of  our  churches. 

Many  Churches  Not  Enlisted 

The  end  is  not  yet.  One  more  tremendous 
fact  stares  us  in  the  face,  namely,  that  a com- 
paratively small  percentage  of  our  churches 
have  ever  adopted  an  adequate  program  of 
education  concerning  the  fundamental  laws  of 
Christian  stewardship  and  missions,  or  have 
ever  yet  put  into  practice  the  essential  feature* 
of  a successful  every-member  canvass. 

Dying  Churches 

Surely  there  are  enough  illustrations  of  the 
pitiful  failure  and  decay  of  churches  which 
have  been  so  self-centered  as  to  lose  their  own 
vital  message,  and  even  their  own  existence,  to 
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arouse  us  all  to  the  necessity  of  using  every 
means  within  our  reach  to  overcome  this  wide- 
spread indifference. 


Indifference  to  What? 

It  may  be  well  at  this  point  to  inquire  to 
what  there  is  such  indifiference  on  the  part  of 
our  churches: 

I.  To  the  revealed  will  of  God. 

II.  To  our  duty  and  responsibility  as  Chris- 
tian stewards. 

III.  To  the  greatest  need  of  that  part  of  the 

world  which  is  less  favored  than  our- 
selves. 

IV.  To  our  own  highest  moral  and  spiritual 

development. 

V.  To  the  well-recognized  fact  that  in  view 

of  our  resources  in  men  and  money  the 
Church  is  not  anywhere  nearly  as  efficient 
as  her  mission  demands. 


Blind  Leading  Blind 

For  church  leaders  to  accept  such  conditions 
without  making  adequate  effort  to  remedy 
them  means  not  simply  that  such  leaders  are 
recreant  to  their  trust,  but  that  churches  whose 
policies  are  to  continue  in  their  hands  are  bound 


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to  produce  an  ineffective  and  selfish  member- 
ship. 


Providence  Will  Foreclose 

History,  as  well  as  revelation,  shows  that 
Providence  keeps  books;  and  those  who  accept 
Christianity  must  propagate  it  or  lose  it  them- 
selves. Unless  Christian  men  who  are  making 
money  will  use  their  wealth  to  honor  God  and 
help  their  fellow-men,  their  money  will  be  the 
unmaking  of  them.  Providence  will  foreclose 
on  the  individual  or  the  church  which  refuses 
to  serve.  It  is  an  obvious  fact  that  the  world 
has  slight  interest  in  the  church  which  does 
not  give  incarnation  to  the  spirit  of  Christ  and 
his  ministry.  The  Christian  law  is  ‘‘TO 
HAVE  IS  TO  OWE,  NOT  OWN.”  No 

church  can  afford  to  continue  its  work  on  a 
program  which  will  allow  its  membership  to 
remain  indifferent  to  such  tremendous  issues. 
One  illustration  of  this  point  will  suffice. 


A Striking  Contrast 

In  1840  the  Baptists  of  North  Carolina 
separated  on  mission  and  anti-mission  lines. 
The  former  numbered  about  24,000  and  the 
latter,  12,000.  Fifty  years  later  the  anti- 
mission Baptists  of  the  state  were  still  about 
12,000.  But  the  missionary  Baptists  had  in- 
creased to  300,000. 


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What  1 hen  Is  the  Remedy? 

What  can  be  done  to  overcome  such  flagrant 
indifference?  Three  definite  things  should  be 
undertaken : 

I.  To  enlist  church  officers  and  leaders  in 
the  whole  program  of  Christ  for  the 
evangelization  of  the  whole  world. 

II.  To  enroll  as  regular  supporters  of  the 
church  the  50  per  cent,  or  more  of  our 
Protestant  church  members  who  are  not 
now  contributing  to  the  current  expense 
and  benevolence  budgets. 

III.  To  develop  in  the  entire  membership  of 
our  churches  the  true  spirit  of  Christian 
stewardship  which  gives  proper  recogni- 
tion to  the  Lordship  of  Christ. 


The  Every-Member  Canvass 

Space  does  not  permit  the  full  discussion  of 
all  things  that  can  and  should  be  done.  Par- 
ticular attention  will  be  given,  however,  to 
some  of  the  features  of  the  every-member  can- 
vass, which  has  wrought  such  marvelous 
changes  in  so  many  churches  throughout  the 
country.  There  is  absolutely  no  question  that 
when  properly  applied  the  canvass  methods 
have  overcome  indifference  and  produced  the 
results  desired. 


Some  of  the  essential  features  of  an  every- 
member  canvass  are: 

1.  An  adequate  program  of  education  and 
preparation.  Nothing  short  of  a month 
is  adequate  as  to  time,  and  nothing  short 
of  the  responsibility  of  the  whole  Church 
for  the  whole  world  is  adequate  as  to 
scope.  Conferences,  prayer  meetings, 
public  discourses,  letters,  and  definite 
missionary  information  and  inspiration 
are  absolutely  essential  to  create  the  right 
atmosphere  for  a successful  canvass. 

II.  A definite  time  for  the  canvass.  An- 
nouncement should  be  made  as  to  the 
exact  time  the  canvass  is  to  be  undertaken 
and  letters  sent  to  each  member  or  family 
of  the  church  and  congregation,  request- 
ing the  members  to  be  at  home  when  the 
canvassers  call.  The  canvass  cannot  be 
a success  unless  those  who  are  to  make 
it,  as  well  as  those  who  are  to  be  can- 
vassed, all  understand  that  the  work  is 
to  be  done  systematically  and  in  an  or- 
derly manner.  Under  these  conditions 
a proper  psychological  and  spiritual  at- 
mosphere will  prevail  for  a successful 
work. 

III.  A trained  committee  to  make  the  canvass. 
Many  details  must  be  mastered  befoie  the 
committee  undertcikes  its  work.  “Sug- 
gestions to  Leaders  in  the  Every-Mem- 


lO 


ber  Canvass  and  other  denommationar 
literature  are  available  for  this  purpose.  % 

The  primary  qualification  for  a suc- 
cessful canvasser,  however,  is  that  after 
having  considered  all  the  needs,  he  him- 
self shall  make  a subscription  worthy  of 
his  own  ability.  No  man  can  ask  an- 
other to  do  a thing  with  any  assurance 
that  he  will  secure  a favorable  reply  un- 
less he  himself  has  a clear  conscience  that 
he  is  doing  his  own  duty.  To  overlook 
this  important  point  will  make  the  in- 
dividual canvasser  ineffective  and  rob  the 
church  of  spiritual  as  well  as  financial 
blessing. 

IV.  Canvassers  must  take  individual  interest 
in  those  Jvhom  thep  are  to  see.  There 
is  far  more  at  stake  than  getting  a few 
dollars  subscribed  to  church  budgets.  It 
is  a fatal  mistake  to  say,  “There  is  no 
use  going  to  see  Mr.  So-and-So.  He 
has  not  given  a cent  for  years  and  never 
comes  to  church.”  A trained  committee 
will  look  upon  Mr.  So-and-So  as  one 
worthy  of  their  earnest  prayer  and  the 
use  of  their  greatest  skill  that  they  may 
win  him  back  to  the  church  and  its  work. 
There  are  many  cases  on  record  where 
canvassers  have,  in  from  twenty  minutes 
to  half  an  hour,  not  only  secured  sub- 
scriptions from  lapsed  members,  but  also 
won  back  the  hearts  of  these  members  to 
the  fellowship  and  work  of  the  church. 


To  do  this  requires  a prayerful  spirit  and 
an  earnest  purpose  on  the  part  of  the 
canvassers.  Such  victories  cannot  be  won 
if  the  work  is  undertaken  hurriedly. 

V.  Weekly  giving.  One  of  the  greatest 
drawbacks  to  the  work  of  the  church  to- 
day is  that  we  have  so  far  overlooked 
the  fact  that  giving  is  an  act  of  Tvorship. 
The  Old  Testament  law  was,  “None 
shall  appear  before  the  Lord  empty.” 
The  New  Testament  teaches,  “Upon  the 
first  day  of  the  week  let  each  one  of  you 
lay  by  him  in  store.” 

Too  many  churches  and  individuals 
have  reduced  giving  to  an  act  of  con- 
venience. Not  only  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  spiritual  teachings  of  the 
Word  and  the  practical  business  efficiency 
of  the  church,  but  also  of  the  best  in- 
terests and  development  of  the  individual 
contributor,  weekly  giving  is  the  most 
effective  plan.  As  has  been  clearly  de- 
monstrated, it  is  not  impossible,  even  in 
the  rural  districts. 

A Pertinent  Question 

If  with  less  than  50  per  cent,  of  our  church 
members  paying  nothing,  and  a large  percent- 
age of  those  who  are  giving  not  paying  up  to 
their  real  abilities,  our  Protestant  churches 
could  raise  in  1914,  $12,450,000  for  home 
missions  and  $16,425,000  for  foreign  mis- 


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sions,  what  might  our  churches  raise  in  1916 
if  all  would  respond  to  the  claims  of  Christ 
with  anything  like  the  abandon  with  which  the 
European  soldiers  have  given  themselves  in 
loyalty  to  their  countries  ? 


No  Excuse  for  Haphazard  Giving 

In  1914  Protestant  church  members  in 
America  gave  to  all  home  mission  work  an 
average  of  54c.  per  member;  to  all  foreign 
mission  work,  7 1 c.  per  member,  or  an  average 
for  both  of  $1.25.  During  the  same  time  our 
entire  population  spent 

For  confectionery..  $290,000,000.00,  or  $3.15  per  capita 
For  soda  water.  . 415,000,000.00,  “ 4.46 

For  tobacco 1,200,000,000.00,  " 12.91  “ " 

For  liquor 2,000,000,000.00,  “21.50  “ “ 

Is  it  not  a sad  state  of  affairs  that  the 
American  people  can  make  a per  capita  con- 
tribution to  “Queen  Nicotine”  of  $12.91,  and 
to  “King  John  Barleycorn”  of  $21.50,  while 
our  Protestant  church  members  have  paid  to 
the  King  of  kings  only  $1.25  for  all  mission 
work?  It  is  just  as  easy  for  church  members 
to  set  aside  their  gifts  for  missions  daily  or 
weekly  as  it  is  for  the  American  people  to  pay 
out  their  money  for  confectionery,  soda  water, 
tobacco,  and  liquor  daily  or  weekly.  Not  until 
the  church  members  will  pay  to  churches  sys- 
tematically will  the  Lord’s  treasury  be  ade- 
quately supplied  with  the  funds  needed  for  the 
extension  of  the  Kingdom. 


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Great  Spiritual  Results 


As  great  as  have  been  the  financial  results 
of  the  every-member  canvass,  these  returns  have 
been  secondary  in  importance.  The  spiritual 
results  have  been  far  greater.  Lapsed  mem- 
bers have  been  reclaimed.  In  one  church  alone 
over  200  members  who  had  been  entirely  lost 
to  the  church  for  years  were  won  back  to  the 
worship  and  work  of  the  church  as  a direct 
result  of  the  canvass.  Church  attendance  has 
been  stimulated.  Pastors  have  reported  an  in- 
crease in  their  congregations  of  from  5 to  100 
per  cent.  The  canvassers  themselves  receive 
new  joy  as  a result  of  the  service.  Again  and 
again  canvassers  have  asked  for  other  work  to 
do,  and  ministries  that  hitherto  have  been  im- 
possible for  want  of  leaders  have  been  carried 
forward  with  the  result  that  all  departments  of 
the  church  work  have  taken  on  new  life  and 
inspiration.  For  the  real  joy  of  it  canvassers 
have  gone  out  on  a fellowship  canvass  or  an 
evangelistic  campaign,  and  cases  are  on  record 
where  in  a few  weeks  as  many  as  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  new  members  have  been  added 
to  one  church,  without  extra  meetings  of  any 
kind,  as  a result  of  the  personal  evangelistic 
efforts  of  men  who  caught  the  vision  of  such 
possibilities  while  conducting  a money  canvass. 


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Not  only  have  the  salaries  of  hundreds  of 
pastors  been  increased,  but  what  is  far  better, 
the  canvass  has  resulted  in  giving  new  vision 
and  encouragement  to  pastors  whose  messages 
and  ministries  have  been  quickened  until  re- 
vivals have  broken  out  and  the  greatest  work 
of  grace  ever  known  has  been  experienced  by 
scores  of  churches. 

These  are  not  fancy  fairy  tales,  but  state- 
ments of  actual  facts.  Church  members  have 
been  led  to  see  the  difference  between  a real 
and  a nominal  Christianity.  Midweek  services 
have  been  attended  by  large  numbers  of  men 
who  had  formerly  been  absent,  and  new  voices 
have  been  heard  in  the  prayer  meetings.  Many 
have  become  men  of  prayer  and  have  developed 
into  effective  personal  workers.  In  short,  the 
whole  attitude  of  pastors,  church  officers  and 
congregations  has  changed  from  that  of  burden 
and  indifference  to  that  of  aggressive,  trium- 
phant, joyful  ministry  and  helpfulness.  No 
wonder  such  churches  have  larger  congrega- 
tions, better  financial  support,  and  many  addi- 
tions to  their  membership.  They  have  learned 
that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

In  view  of  such  victories  in  so  many  churches 
why  should  not  any  church  have  faith  to  be- 
lieve that  our  Lord  is  able  to  do  a fresh  piece 
of  re-creative  work  in  any  parish  just  as  soon 
as  He  has  proper  channels  through  which  to 
work? 

It  is  said  that  Napoleon  once  had  need  of 
a soldier  for  a military  feat  so  hazardous  that 


in  all  probability  it  would  cost  the  man  his  life. 
Standing  before  his  army  he  explained  the  situ- 
ation fully.  Then  turning  his  back  and  folding 
his  arms  in  the  characteristic  attitude,  he  cried: 
“If  there  is  any  man  in  my  army  willing  to  lay 
down  his  life  for  France,  let  him  step  out  of 
the  ranks.”  Facing  about,  his  countenance 
fell,  for  the  ranks  were  unbroken  as  before. 
But  his  marshall,  saluting,  said,  “Sire,  the 
whole  army  stepped  forward.” 

When  once  her  leaders  have  explained 
the  needs  and  sounded  the  call  for  service, 
will  not  the  whole  Christian  army  step 
forward? 


16 


I Price  5c.  each;  15c.  a dozen;  | 
I $1.00  a hundred,  carriage  prepaid;  | 
I $8.00  a thousand,  carriage  extra.  1 

I Catalogue  of  ^Publications  | 

I on  request  | 

i Laymen’s  Missionary  Movement  1 
1 1 Madison  Ave.,  New  York  1 


